VA: Jellystone Park opens petting zoo

GLOUCESTER POINT, Va. — The Jellystone Park in Gloucester Point, Va., has a new unique attraction — a petting zoo, which recently added donkeys, alpacas, giant Flemish rabbits and Juliana pigs, some of which have been rescued. Other petting zoo animals include miniature horses and goats.

“We think the petting zoo enhances the camping experience for our guests,” said Eileen Gedicke, who co-owns the campground with her husband, Ken. She said different pairings of animals are brought out at different times for guests to enjoy.

The park, with 200 RV and tent sites and 13 rental cabins, offers nature oriented activities as well, including fishing and crabbing along the Severn River, a tributary to Chesapeake Bay, which is a popular destination for kayaking and boating enthusiasts. “From our docks, campers can get out into open water,” Gedicke said.

Families also use Jellystone Park as a base camp for visiting other nearby attractions, including the historic towns of Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, as well as Busch Gardens.

There are plenty of attractions to keep campers busy at Jellystone Park, however, including a water zone with two 70-foot-long water slides and a splash ground, a swimming pool and kiddie pool; a jumping pillow; a mining sluice; paddle boats, kayaks and aqua trikes as well as new pavilions for special events and a concession center.

A similar weekend with a s’mores theme is scheduled for Aug. 11-13. Christmas in July weekends are set for July 21-23 and 28-30 with ornament and gingerbread house making activities, a foam play area, visits by Santa Claus and dancing at a winter ball with the bears.

“Yogi’s Food Frenzy Birthday Celebration” will take place Aug. 25-27 and will include edible crafts, games and activities with food and “an epic food fight.”

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(Dec. 18, 2018) -- The fee increases range from a $5.00 increase for cars, motorcycles and individuals, to a $2 increase for camping permits. The annual pass fee will not go up this year, but will increase in 2020 by $5.00. All the other fees will also increase another $5.00 in 2020.